a usually loose-fitting gown worn especially in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Word origin: French manteau mantle

The word was first used in 1678.

January 3 - accentuate - I chose this word because when I looked up highlight, I learned it wasn't in use until the late 1800s, and then 1920s. And since, I am writing a novel set in the Georgian period, highlight would not do. So, today's word is accentuate

January 4 - white elephant - I picked this word because I was watching the series - The Forsyte Saga - and heard one of the main characters refer to house as a white elephant. I was curious as to when such a saying came into existence.

an Indian elephant of a pale color that is sometimes venerated in India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar

a property requiring much care and expense and yielding little profit; an object no longer of value to its owner but of value to others

something of little or no value

The word was first used in the 15th century.

January 5 - percolate - This is a great word!!!! I chose this one because I used it in my book which takes place in the 1750s and I had someone question the accuracy of a word like this. Of course I understood their question - did they percolate back then (thinking of coffee). So, I decided to check it out.

to cause (a solvent) to pass through a permeable substance (as a powdered drug) especially for extracting a soluble constituent

to prepare (coffee) in a percolator

to be diffused through

to ooze or trickle through a permeable substance

to spread gradually

simmer

Word Origin: Latin percolatus, past participle of percolare, from per through + colare to sieve

The word was first used in 1626.

January 6 - whimsy - This word is just plain fun. It's fun to say, it's fun to write, it's just plain fun!

whim (there they go again, using the root word to define the word), caprice (another word people go - what does this mean?)

the quality or state of being whimsical (ha! there they go again, using another form of the word) or fanciful

a fanciful or fantastic device, object, or creation especially in writing or art

Word Origin: irregular from whim-wham (Of course this helps me not at all)

The word was first used in 1605.

January 7- wile - I chose this word because it almost always turns up red when I type it in my novels. So, I figured a bit of investigating was in order.

a trick or stratagem intended to ensnare or deceive; a beguiling or playful trick

January 8 - swagger - I was looking for the word cocky and realized it hadn't been used as I wanted it until later in the 1700s, so I looked for a synonym. This is when I found swagger.

to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner;

boast, brag

to force by argument or threat

Word Origin: probably from swag + er

The word was first used around 1596.

January 9 - antsy - this is a fun word. I was going to use it today when I was describing how my hero was feeling, but I thought - "hmmm, maybe I should check out when this word was first used." I'm glad I did.

restless, fidgety; impatient, eager

nervous, apprehensive

unable to sit or stand still

Word origin: American English

The word was first used in 1838, but was spelled ancey. It was not used again until the 1950s and many believe it is connected to "having ants in one's pants". You decide.

January 10 - chevalier - the name has a romantic ring to it, doesn't it?

cavalier - of course this one doesn't help (a cavalier is a gentleman trained in arms and horsemanship)

a member of any of various orders of knighthood or of merit (as the Legion of Honor)

January 21 - republic - I was working on one of my other blogs today when I came across this word. We recognize it easily when we think of Republicans and Democrats, but do we know where the words came from?

a government having a chief of state who is not a monarch and who in modern times is usually a president

a political unit having such a government

a government which has supreme power resides in a body of citizens entitled to vote and is exercised by elected officers and representatives responsible for them and governing according to law

a usually specified republican government of a political unit

the body of persons freely engaged in a specified activity

Word origin: French republique - from Middle French republique, from Latin respublica, from res thing, wealth + publica, feminine of publicus public

The word was first used in 1604.

January 22 - lissome - I've read this word before in historical novels and always wondered how this word came to be.

easily flexed

lithe

Word origin: alteration of lithesome which actually wasn't first used until 1774.

The word was first used in 1763.

January 23 - ribald - I remember seeing this word when I was in British literature classes in college.

January 25 - hoyden - this word is used a lot in historical romance novels to describe the heroine who can be quite the tomboy.

a girl or woman of saucy, boisterous, or carefree behavior

Word origin: they think it's from the Dutch - heiden for country lout, from Middle Dutch - heathen.

The word was first used in 1676.

January 26 - ton - No, I do not mean a unit of measure. For those of you who read historical romance novels, we have all seen this word and wondered "where did this strange word come from and how did it come to mean the society"? The word is usually seen in Regency novels.

the prevailing fashion

the quality or state of being smart or fashionable

Word origin: French - tone - or Old French - tonus

The word was first used in 1756.

January 27 - harlot - Of course we know that prostitution has been around for centuries, but when did certain words come into existence is key when you are writing.

The word was first used in the 14th century - think of the time Marco Polo first traveled to China.

January 30 - beget - we usually see this word in conjunction with "beget an heir"

to procreate as the father

to produce especially as an effect or outgrowth

Word origin: Middle English begeten, from Old English bigietan - more at get.

The word was first used in the 13th century.

January 31 - valedictorian - I was watching a commercial where the president of a university was printing the degrees while handing them to the graduates and thought - hmmm - where did the word valedictorian come from?

the student usually having the highest rank in a graduating class who delivers the valedictory address at the commencement exercises

I looked up valedictory which led me to valediction so I could figure out where the word originated.

Word origin: Latin valedicere

While valedictorian was first used in 1759 , valediction was first used in 1613 and merely means farewell.

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Who is Vivienne?

I have been in love with romance since I could first read those happily ever after stories. I always believed in happy endings. I believe in Prince Charming. I guess I am a hopeless romantic.
I wrote my first novel at the age of 17 and have been hooked ever since. I am an active member of Chicago-North RWA and write historical romance novels. What time period do I write? It depends on what time period I am currently in love with. Right now - I am writing Georgians set in England, that dabble in the colonies as well. I have written Civil War, Regency, English Civil War, Crimean War, American expansion, Caribbean pirates, and Victorians.
Once I discovered I could combine my love for romance with my love of history, nothing could stop me from a good story steeped in history.

August's Quote

August is here and with it the closing of summer - pools shutting down, schools starting, and days getting shorter.

"You have to write the book that wants to be written. And if the book will be too difficult for grown-ups, then you write it for children." Madeleine L'Engle

What I'm Working on Now

Right now, like many of my friends who just got back from Chicago-North's Spring Fling, I am working on tweaking my submission to send to an editor. I am hoping my dear friends were lucky enough to get a request for a full submission.

The novel I wrote about last month is the one requested, only I have changed the name. Instead of being called "Scarlet Moon" I have changed the named to "Her Lover was a Spy".